Understanding Chimpanzee Health Issues

Chimpanzees in Uganda's Kibali National Park suffered from severe pneumonia outbreaks caused by human metanumovirus, resulting in significant deaths within the community. Scientists, like Tony Goldberg, discovered the link between human diseases and great apes, emphasizing the vulnerability of these species to pathogens transmitted by humans due to genetic similarities. The outbreak highlighted the threat of reverse zoonoses, where human diseases pose a severe risk to wildlife populations, particularly for great apes living in protected areas like Kibali.